Middletown Seeks To Ban Marijuana Sales Within Town Limits

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Add Middletown to the list of a growing number of New Jersey municipalities that are seeking to ban pot sales, if Gov. Phil Murphy legalizes recreational marijuana.

The township committee is planning on introducing legislation that would prohibit businesses that sell recreational marijuana from opening in Middletown. The legislation is being pushed by Middletown Committeeman Tony Fiore.

Other towns such as Old Bridge, Toms River, Point Pleasant Beach and Chatham have all discussed passing similar ordinances that would ban marijuana sales within their city limits.

Related Patch reporting:
Berkeley Will Soon Ban Pot Sales In Township, Mayor Says
Toms River Weighs Ban On Growing, Selling Marijuana
Point Pleasant Beach Council Adopts No Pot Ordinance

Old Bridge Bans Recreational Marijuana; Jersey City Welcomes It

Asbury Park and Jersey City are the two most prominent towns so far that said they would welcome recreational pot dispensaries. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop tweeted in January that the city planning department is already looking at where they can legally have dispensaries.

Fiore said his opposition to marijuana in town is based on "the best interests of Middletown residents and taxpayers," Fiore told an Asbury Park Press reporter. "Helping the state spend money in other areas while providing no real incentives to help lower property taxes in a meaningful way to Middletown taxpayers is something that I nor any of my colleagues are interested in being a party to."

At last week's Township Committee meeting, Middletown elected committee members said they were concerned the Township would have no say over where marijuana retail shops, processing facilities or grow operations could set up shop.

Gov. Murphy has said repeatedly he wants to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey, and would heavily tax it, using the millions in revenue to pay for things like free community college. However, he currently does not have the votes in the state Legislature to make marijuana legal; several key Democratic legislators said they are against the idea.

Sens. Joseph Vitale of Middlesex, Ronald Rice and Richard Codey of Essex, Jeff Van Drew of Cape May, Shirley Turner of Mercer and Brian Stack of Hudson County all said they would vote against a bill legalizing recreational marijuana.

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